About Us

Committed to reaching out, digging in and giving back.

Since 1905, we have been committed to enriching our local communities, driving local economic growth, and cultivating lasting relationships by putting the best interest of our clients and communities first.

These values are a summary of who we are as individuals and how we conduct ourselves as a bank. They’re also a statement of how we view our responsibilities to each other, to our communities, and to the world in which we all live. We believe that it’s not enough just to care, you also have to do.

We are honored to be listed among the top 50 Corporate Philanthropists in our markets every year, and we are proud of our employees' volunteer and community activities. For more than 115 years, we have made thousands of individual contributions to local nonprofit organizations and taken an active leadership role in community activities. We are very proud of this legacy, and proud of the organizations that do so much to support so many within our communities.

Here for you. Here for the community.

We invite you to join us and discover why local community banking is good for you, your business and your community.

Community Support Activities

Volunteerism

Last year, Mechanics Bank employees supported more than 50 community-based organizations by contributing 875 volunteer hours. We are proud of this accomplishment as our employees “roll up their sleeves” and get set to help our communities next year!

Financial Literacy

Mechanics Bank is proud to announce that we are investing in our youth by providing them with the financial education needed to be successful in the 21st century. Mechanics Bank’s “Investing in Today’s Youth” financial literacy training is integrated into the curriculum of six (6) public high schools. With this initiative Mechanics Bank can provide comprehensive financial education to students in low-income communities, while establishing a high standard with lasting social benefit. Upon completion, students will be certified in financial literacy.

Community Development

We believe in strong and vibrant communities, which is demonstrated through our support of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which provide economic development through job training, small business lending and technical assistance to low-income, minority, and women-owned businesses. Our community development efforts also include affordable housing support such as a 10-unit self-help Habitat for Humanity project located in Oakland, a 48-unit family apartment in Calistoga, and a 62-unit multi-family project in Richmond, utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.

Community Involvement

We strive to understand the needs of the communities throughout our footprint. To achieve this we work closely with our community partners to offer programs such as Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for individuals who are saving to start a business, college education or buying their first home; local chambers of commerce to support business and community-based organizations; and working with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBSF) to provide 3:1 first-time homebuyer down payment and closing cost assistance through the Workforce Initiative Subsidy for Homeownership (WISH) and Individual Empowerment and Development Account (IDEA) programs.

Philanthropy

Our Corporate Giving Program helps to support nonprofit organizations whose goals are to make our communities better. This is achieved by giving a majority of the donations to organizations that directly support or target low- to moderate-income individuals and/or communities. Organizations that benefit from Mechanics Bank donations and grants include local Boys and Girls Clubs, Junior Achievement, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, community health clinics, children advocacy organizations, elderly support organizations and our public school programs.